My job as a Mobile Carer
14th October 2016
After retiring from the police force, I was looking for a part time job that was locally based and would help top up my pension. I’d previously worked for Wiltshire Medical Services so had a good understanding of the role Telecare and its Responder Service, despite have no previous “care” experience at all.
Induction and training
My application was successful and I soon took up my role as a Telecare Mobile Carer. The first few days were based at the office in Chippenham where I got to learn more about Medvivo and Telecare. It wasn’t long before I was out working with another responder doing visits. I was given an induction booklet to fill out based on actual experiences or from questioning other responders so I could learn more about the types of visit I was likely to deal with.
Alongside this, all staff have to undertake a range of e-learning modules (from information governance to manual handling) – some of which is repeated after a few years to ensure our knowledge remains up to date and adheres to latest Government policies. There is also the ’Common Induction Standards’ evidence booklet which provides information and support about dealing with personal care and associated issues.
The early days
I was initially based in Crammer Court in Devizes. It was a little awkward at first while we would sit watching staff running round from resident to resident, but we couldn’t help as at any time a call could in and we would need to jump into action.
As stated I had no experience of care, in interview I stated I had changed babies’ nappies and picked up mess after my dogs. I’d cared for friends and family during illness but had no real idea about what would be required in this role. Having to provide personal care to someone you don’t know can initially feel difficult or awkward, but it’s more about the conversation you have with the person rather than the work itself. Once you’ve done it a couple of times you soon realise it’s more about maintaining the patient’s dignity and giving them respect during the process.
I spent 30 years in the police force so dealing with people was not supposed to be an issue, in fact as a responder you only have to deal with people who need your help. Making conversation or small talk while caring for someone was one area I found to be quite a challenge - in the police there was always an agenda or specific purpose behind the conversation. It has got easier, but it can still be a challenge at times.
A typical day
Although you’re going to work to help people, you don’t quite know what that is going to entail.
“It’s not knowing what the day can bring that makes the job exciting.”
Sometimes it may be little more than a cup of tea and a chat, in fact sometimes when you arrive and the person is sleeping you may leave having done nothing at all. However, with every visit you are making a difference to that person’s life, helping and supporting them. In that way it’s a very fulfilling job.
Star Award recognition
One day I was asked to go and check on a patient who was having a mental health crisis. I’d been to see the lady before but only when she had missed contact calls. When I arrived she was with a neighbour and in a bit of a mess. I stayed with her for some time while we spoke to our out of hours GP service and the social services emergency duty team. It was getting towards the end of my shift but as I had built a rapport with the patient, I was concerned if someone else came to replace me it might upset the current calm situation. So I stayed and took her to the local Out Of Hours’ Doctor Centre where she asked me to accompany her when she was called to see the doctor. When the doctor and patient were both happy I left, although I waited outside until the appointment was over and the crisis resolved so I could take the patient home.
I was so pleased with the doctor that I contacted our team co-ordinator and asked them to pass on my thanks. Later on I found out I had been nominated for Medvivo’s Staff Recognition Award as I had ‘gone the extra mile’ to help this particular patient. I am very proud to have been nominated but recognise that we all went above and beyond the call of duty that night, as can happen on many shifts when you really care about delivering excellent quality of patient care.
Career aspirations
After 2½ years as a mobile carer I successfully applied for a Team Lead role. The mobile carer role has changed recently with the introduction of Urgent Care at Home, with far more planned care visits that are intended for people in the most need - people who are just out of hospital, or who need help to stay at home rather than being admitted into hospital. As the team lead I still get to go out and visit people (that’s the best bit) but I hope that I’m helping to shape the new role as we move forward and the responder role becomes even more fulfilling in the future.
Advice for future responders
Don’t be put off by not having a background in personal care. Whilst it helps, the mobile responder role is more about helping people. You are out there 24/7 helping people through little moments of crisis, but you’re not on your own. There is a whole Medvivo team available to support you. Whether it’s another responder, clinical advice from Access to Care or our Doctors and Nurse Practitioners during the out of hours’ period.
Being a Mobile Carer is about being a part of a big team who are all focused on the single aim of helping people. Anyone who enjoys a challenge, as much mental as physical, and enjoys helping people will enjoy being a responder.
By John Lawton, Mobile Carer Team Lead
About John Lawton
After 30 years in the police force, John joined Medivo back in 2011 when it was known as Wiltshire Medical Services. He worked as a co-ordinator in the Single Point of Access team and the Out of Hours call centre prior to the introduction of NHS111. John now leads a team of Mobile Responders from the Chippenham office and is great at inducting new members of staff into the Telecare team.
John is an avid fundraiser for charities and has taken part in a Santa Dash, the Bristol - Bath marathon, the National and Yorkshire Three Peak Challenges and the Canadian Canoed the Caledonian Canal, to name but a few of his recent exploits!
Other News
-
Mobile telecare gives everyone the confidence to live how they want without feeling confined to their own home. Telecare, sometimes known as lifeline or pendant alarms, is a...
30th Nov 2016 -
Remote monitoring services to improve patient care during COVID-19. Since November 2020, Medvivo has been working with stakeholders across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire...
01st Apr 2021 -
Medvivo Group receives National Happiest Workplace Award following investment in staff professional and personal wellbeing. Medvivo runs the Integrated Urgent Care (IUC) contract for Swindon...
29th Nov 2019 -
It is pancreatic cancer awareness month. To support the campaign, we have been sharing information with staff during the month with one member of staff sharing her own personal experience of...
23rd Nov 2018 -
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a form of sexual abuse that involves the manipulation and/or coercion of young people under the age of 18 into sexual activity. The National Child Sexual...
16th Mar 2017 -
We are delighted to share the first issue of our new quarterly patient-focused newsletter. Please do read and share with your friends and family. If you have any feedback or suggestions for...
18th Sep 2020 -
The NHS continues to deal with immense pressures on the health system across the country. From the seasonal issues that come with winter to the ongoing fight with the latest coronavirus variant...
22nd Dec 2021 -
Clinical Education Event - a free event for clinical staff at BMI The Ridgeway Hospital, Wroughton. Tuesday 19th November18:45 - 21:00 We are delighted to welcome two guest speakers from...
22nd Oct 2019 -
We are proud to support the "#hellomynameis" campaign and our staff wear their badges to serve as a reminder to introduce themselves whenever they come into contact with patients and service...
24th Jan 2017 -
From Complication to Calamity Managing post-operative patients in the community Date: Thursday 13th September 2018Time: 18:45 - 21:00Location: Medvivo, Fox Talbot House, Unit 4 Greenways Business...
01st Aug 2018 -
Season's greetings from the Medvivo team with an end of year round up of latest news and updates, including: An introduction to the High Intensity User (HIU) Service Meet the HIU Team...
24th Dec 2021 -
With a vision to achieve excellence in the delivery of care through the provision of person-centred health and care services, as an employer we are equally committed to providing a healthy and...
05th May 2017 -
The Mobile Carers at Medvivo are a team of highly trained social care responders who visit customers or service users in the home. Following a call into our Telecare Alarm Monitoring Centre...
02nd Dec 2016 -
Urgent Care in Bath and North East Somerset 11 December 20187pm-8pmMidford House, St Martins Hospital BA2 5RP Who should attend? GPs who do not currently work for BEMS at the Bath...
12th Nov 2018 -
The work of our mobile carers is vital when it comes to providing help at home, whether that’s for care, support or reassurance at all times of the day or night. We have a team of carers...
22nd Aug 2017 -
Clinician’s Education EventWednesday 27th February12:00 - 16:00 Hathaway Medical Centre,Middlefield Road, Chippenham SN14 6GT Our line up of speakers covers a range of areas and is now...
28th Jan 2019 -
BMI Healthcare and Medvivo invited GPs and NPs from across the region to join them for the first in a new series of GP Education Events. Medvivo was delighted to welcome Mr Allaaeldin...
20th Dec 2017 -
Managing Knee Pain and Knee Injuries in General Practice Date: Monday 5th March 2018 Time: 18.45 - 21.00Location: Medvivo, Fox Talbot House Unit 4, Greenways Business Park, Chippenham...
10th Jan 2018 -
Clinicians talked about surgical issues experienced in their in and out of hours roles. The latest in a series of Clinician Education events that we co-host with BMI Healthcare featured a symposium...
17th Sep 2018 -
NEWS training helps responders identify acutely ill patients, particularly those who may be deteriorating and need urgent clinical attention. The Allied Health Science Network (AHSN) has been...
26th Nov 2018 -
Last week we launched our new Mobile Telecare service at an event hosted in our Medvivo Careline office in Dorchester. It was an invitation-only event for organisations and partnerships in the...
06th Dec 2016 -
On Wednesday 16th May Medvivo hosted its third education event entitled ‘Management of Urgent Gynaecology Problems in Primary Care’. This is a series of events which are co-hosted...
16th May 2018 -
Looking after our mental health is just as important as our physical health. If you were to get injured or fall at work, a First Aider would be called upon to help you. In a similar way, when...
10th Oct 2018 -
Today is No Smoking Day and marks the start of our latest internal health and wellbeing campaign which focuses on smoking awareness. No Smoking Day has been around since 1983, when it...
08th Mar 2017 -
The NHS is changing how people access urgent and emergency care across the country. They are making it easier and safer for patients to get the right treatment at the right time and aiming...
04th Dec 2020 -
Medvivo provides Wiltshire’s GP Out of Hours service as well as a range of other health and care services. The main office is based in Chippenham, with services being operated from bases...
08th May 2017 -
It’s the time of year when, if you haven’t already had it, you should be thinking about getting the annual flu vaccination. It is just one of the ways to make sure we stay well during...
30th Nov 2016 -
As a health and care services provider, we are delighted to announce that Medvivo is boosting its clinical technology offering through the acquisition of Expert 24, a global developer of customised...
01st Jun 2017 -
Organised with BMI Healthcare, we are delighted to have Dr Emma Frampton, Medical Director at Dorothy House, as our guest speaker, and one of their specialist nurses. Tuesday 1st October19:...
20th Sep 2019 -
When you start a new job, it can be a daunting prospect to get to know the business and the services it provides. At Medvivo, we pride ourselves on making new members of staff feel as welcome...
13th Oct 2016 -
The latest newsletter includes: Video consultation service Meet the Medical Director COVID Oximetry at Home Remote Monitoring Service Think 111 First Wellbeing Tips for Winter Recognition...
17th Dec 2020 -
A new clinical leadership role to support our growing team of clinicians. Medvivo continues to rapidly expand with new staff coming into the organisation as new clinical roles are introduced...
31st Mar 2021 -
After retiring from the police force, I was looking for a part time job that was locally based and would help top up my pension. I’d previously worked for Wiltshire Medical Services so...
14th Oct 2016 -
This year has been one of the best (and busiest) in Medvivo’s history. Here’s a look back at our top ten news stories from 2017. 1. An outstanding CQC inspection Back in...
27th Dec 2017 -
Our Spring issue contents latest news and updates, including: An introduction to the Mobile Care service The TSA Quality Standards Framework Meet members of the Mobile Care team Risk...
15th Apr 2022 -
As part of our rewards and recognition programme, staff are encouraged to nominate their peers for a Star Award to recognise when they have gone the “extra mile”. There are many...
22nd Dec 2017 -
Catch up with the latest news and updates from Medvivo, including: COVID Oximetry at home and Virtual Wards Meet a Clinical Responder Ask Medvivo Let's Keep Life Moving Compliments...
09th Sep 2021 -
As a provider of health and care services in the community, we ensure our staff are regularly trained so they are equipped and able to cope with patients or service users, whatever condition...
19th May 2017 -
Virtual service user group set up to help influence and improve service user experience. Recognising the value of working with its service users, Medvivo has created a platform to encourage...
19th Jun 2020 -
It’s Migraine Awareness Week this week and despite 8 million migraine sufferers in the UK, awareness of the condition remains low. Migraine is a complex condition with a variety of symptoms...
06th Sep 2017 -
Tomorrow is the start of the annual leading Technology Enabled Care (TEC) and digital health sector event. We will be there on stand 21 to showcase our services and look forward to finding out...
17th Oct 2016 -
Today, which would have been Florence Nightingale's 197th birthday, is Nurses' Day; a day which celebrates the great work of nursing staff around the world. While we join in the celebrations...
12th May 2017 -
Medvivo, the organisation which provides Wiltshire’s GP Out of Hours service as well as a range of other health and care services, has been rated “Outstanding” by the Care...
21st Apr 2017 -
Medvivo has been building a reputation for delivering a range of high quality and person-centred care services since 2004. The Telecare Alarm Monitoring Service is a growing part of that business...
12th May 2017 -
The Care Quality Commission has rated the quality of care being provided by Medvivo as Outstanding following a comprehensive inspection in January this year. This is a fantastic achievement...
16th Apr 2019 -
Staff support new initiative with donations to help service users enjoy the festive season. Our Response Team is often called to people who have little or no food in the cupboard and no family...
04th Jan 2019 -
Today, Wednesday 14th October 2020, is the third annual Allied Healthcare Professionals (AHPs) Day. As mainly degree level professions, AHPs are professionally autonomous practitioners. 13...
14th Oct 2020 -
Medvivo wins two highly commended awards at the global Interact Excellence Awards 2021. We are delighted to announce we have been recognised in both the Best Offline Worker Strategy and Best...
20th Jul 2021
Your login details have been used by another user or machine. Login details can only be used once at any one time so you have therefore automatically been logged out. Please contact your sites administrator if you believe this other user or machine has unauthorised access.